The 2024 NBA Playoffs tip off this week following Sunday’s end of the regular season, which solidified the four-team Play-In Tournament field in both the Eastern and Western conferences and the six teams that await them in the first round. The action begins Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, and the first round of the NBA Playoffs is set to begin Saturday after the Play-In games are played.
Take a look below at the full NBA Playoffs schedule and notes on how the Play-In Tournament works. All postseason games will air on TBS, TNT or ESPN, which can be viewed via live streams through FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), and Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
2024 NBA PLAYOFFS
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT AND 1ST ROUND
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, APRIL 16
#8 Los Angeles Lakers at #7 New Orleans Pelicans
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET. Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, La. TV channel: TNT. Live stream offers: DirecTV Stream (free trial), SlingTV (low intro price), and Max ($9.99/month base price).
The stakes: Winner advances to play the No. 2 Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Loser takes on the winner of the play-in game between No. 9 Sacramento and No. 10 Golden State for the West’s No. 8 seed.
#10 Golden State Warriors at #9 Sacramento Kings
Start time: 10 p.m. ET. Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, Calif. TV channel: TNT. Live stream offers: DirecTV Stream (free trial), SlingTV (low intro price), and Max ($9.99/month base price).
The stakes: Winner advances to play the loser of the Play-In Tournament game between No. 7 New Orleans and No. 8 Los Angeles on Friday for the West’s No. 8 seed. The losing team is eliminated.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
#8 Miami Heat (46-36) at #7 Philadelphia 76ers (47-35)
Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament
Start time: 7 p.m. ET. Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia. TV channel: ESPN. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), and SlingTV (low intro price).
The stakes: Winner advances to play the No. 2 seed New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The loser plays the winner of the play-in game between No. 9 Chicago and No. 10 Atlanta on Friday for the East’s No. 8 seed.
#10 Atlanta Hawks (36-46) at #9 Chicago Bulls (39-43)
Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament
Start time: 9:30 p.m. ET. Location: United Center, Chicago, Ill. TV channel: ESPN. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), and SlingTV (low intro price).
The stakes: Winner advances to play the loser of the Play-In Tournament game between No. 7 Philadelphia and No. 8 Miami on Friday. The losing team is eliminated.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
Heat/76ers loser vs. Hawks/Bulls winner
Eastern Conference 8th seed game
Start time: TBD. Location: TBD. TV channel: ESPN. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), and SlingTV (low intro price).
Lakers/Pelicans loser vs. Warriors/Kings winner
Western Conference 8th seed game
Start time: TBD. Location: TBD. TV channel: TNT. Live stream offers: DirecTV Stream (free trial), SlingTV (low intro price), and Max ($9.99/month base price).
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Heat/76ers winner at New York Knicks (50-32)
Eastern Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
#5 Orlando Magic (47-35) at #4 Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34)
Eastern Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
Lakers/Pelicans play-in winner at #2 Denver Nuggets (57-25)
Western Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Ball Arena, Denver. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
#6 Phoenix Suns (49-33) at #3 Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26)
Western Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minn. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
SUNDAY, APRIL 21
East 8-seed winner at #1 Boston Celtics (64-18)
Eastern Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: TD Garden, Boston. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
#6 Indiana Pacers (47-35) at #3 Milwaukee Bucks (49-33)
Eastern Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
West 8-seed Play-In winner at #1 Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25)
Western Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
#5 Dallas Mavericks (50-32) at #4 Los Angeles Clippers (51-31)
Western Conference First Round - Game 1
Start time: TBD. Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles. TV channel: ESPN or TNT. Live stream offers: FuboTV (free trial - ESPN only), DirecTV Stream (free trial - carries TNT and ESPN), SlingTV (low intro price - carries TNT and ESPN), Max ($9.99 base price - TNT only).
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